Cigar lighter



Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH REN AYOTTE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application led December 6, 1,926. 'Serial No. 152,773.

' I This invention relates to lighting devices particularly to cigar lighters, and

is provided with a Hat surface against which an ob]- ect is adapted to be placed for igniting the same, together with new and improved means for heating and mounting said element.

Another object of the invention is the pro# vision of a lighting device that may be readi. ly attached to an automobile without mutilating or changin the car in any manner.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved electrical resistance holder and container having new and improved means for holding the lighting or electrical resistance element and provided with means for carrying an emergency supply of such elements.

` A still further object of the invention is the rovision of a new and improved lighting device that is cheap to manufacture, simple in construction', easily assembled, eicient in operation, and one that is not likely .to become broken or get out of order.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the fol lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which 'Fig 1. is a side elevation of the head or movable portion of the device;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the socket or stationary portion of the device;

Fi 3 is a sectional .view of the device as- Vsemb ed substantially on the line 3 3 of Figli is a front elevation ofthe body portion of the movable member with the metallic casing removed;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation o the head or movable, member.

Fig. 6v is a perspective view of one of the -lighting holder elements;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the stationary portion of the device; and

Fig. 8 is a rear view thereof with the thumb screwy removed.

The device is especially adapted to be used for lighting cigars, cigarettes and the like and comprises a stationarypart 10 which is provided with means for detachably attaching the .same to a support constituting a groundfor the electric current and a head 'or removable pa'rt 11 containing the lighting or electrical resistance element. e

The stationary part or shell of the lighting d evice comprises a metallic shell or body portion 12, through which a metallic sleegve 13 extends. A terminal 14 insulated from the shell 12 by a plug 15 of any suitable insulating material, is provided. For convenience of description, the stationary part or shell 10 will be termed a socket. The terminal 14 1s preferably though not necessarily in the form of a bolt with its head 16 constituting a contact member aswill presently appear. The opposite end is screw-threaded and provided with the nuts 17 between which isy clamped one end of the conductor 20.

The socket 10 is provided with suitable means for detachably attachingthe device to its support. It is common practice to mount cigar lighters on the dash or instrument boards of automobiles by providing openings laterally extending lugs 18 and 19 spacedl apart suiciently to receive the board between them. The lug 19 is provided with a screwthreaded opening for receiving the thumb screw 21 for clamping vthe device to the dash, instrument board or other support. Y

The head or movable part 11 of the device comprisesl a body portion 22 of suitable insulating material, as bakelite which is preferably though not necessarily cylindrical and is'provided with ai iduced inner end portion 23 for engaging in the socketlO as will presently appear. Its outer end is slightly reduced and is screw-threaded as at 24 for engaging the inner threaded end of a metallic casing 25 the outer end of which is provided with an Vopening 26 for affording access to the heating element as will presently appear. An asbestos lining 30 is preferably provided for the inner cylindrical wall of the casing 25 to protect said casing from the heat from the heating element. In order to protect the hand of the user from comingA in contact with the metallic casing 25 which may become more or less heated, a cylindrical llll jacket 27 of suitable insulating material as bakelite is slipped over said casing and held thereon by friction or othersuitable means. The thickness of the jacket 27 is'such tha-t when it is in position it will be flush with the `face of 'short radius but this is objectionable lbecause of the limited area `of contact between the end of the cigar and the lighting element. The present invention contemplates the use of a lighting element that is provided with a flat surface facing outwardly whereby a greater proportionate amount of the area of the end of the cigar will be ignited in coming in Contact with said lighting element.

As shown, the lighting element 28 is in the form of a rectangular bar and is supported adjacent to the opening 26 and across the same by a holder comprising the supports 29 and 31.

The support 29 comprises a body portion32 having a laterally extending foot 33 having its outer end slotted as at 34 for receiving the Contact member 35 which secures the support 29 to the member 22. A retaining member 36 having its upper end formed into a recess 37 for receiving one end of the lighting element 28, is rigidly secured to the body portion 32 as by spot welding. The upper end of the body portion 32 is bent over the recess 37 as at 38 to retain the lighting element therein.

The support 31 differs from the one just described in that the foot 39 is much shorter and is provided with a short slot for receiving a bolt or rivet 41 which extends through the foot 39, the body portion 22 and the flange 42 of a metallic sleeve 43 Von the reduced portion 23 of the member 22. It will thus be seen that the supports 29 and 31 are insulated from each other and that ythe supports 29 and 31 are connected to the contact member or bolt 35 and the sleeve 43, respectively.

Any suitable means may be employed for connecting the head or movable member 11 to the socket or stationary portion 1() of the device. ln the form of the construction selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention thereduced portion 23 of the head 11 is adapted to engage in the socket 13. The sleeve 43 is provided with projections 44 at opposite sides thereof for engaging bayonet slots 45 formed in the side walls of the sleeve 13. The projections 44 are held in the bayonet slots y suitable resilient means such as the plunger 46 which is adapted to engage a flange47` extending about the inner end of the sleeve 13. The plunger 46 is secured in an aperture in the body portion 22.

It is common practice to mount the resilient element in the socket member, but this necessitates the lengthening of said member, and furthermore the springis likely to become detached and lost, or become loose and accidently close the circuit between the contact member and the terminal. By providing the plunger or plungers 46 and mounting them on the head, these objections are eliminated.

The parts are so constructed that when the head or movable member 11 is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring plungers the inner end of the Contact member 35 will engagey the inner end of the terminal 14 whereby a current ot' electricity from a lsuitable source mayow through the conductor 20, terminal 14, contact member 35, support 29, lighting element 28, support 31, bolt 41, sleeve 43, and from thence is grounded on the dash or instrument board to which the device is attached, thereby heating the carbon 28 to incandescence. The head member may now, if desired, be removed and used for lighting cigars, cigarettes and the like, or the cigar or cigarette may be lighted without removing the head from the socket.

It is desirable that means be provided for carrying an emergency supply of earbons or lighting elements. As shown on the drawing the member 22 is provided with a reetangular recess 48 for receiving an additional carbon 49, which is held in position by the casing 25 when the parts are assembled. When the carbon 28 has been burned out or broken the carbon 49 may be placed in position in the holders 29'and 31. the carbon the casing 25 is unscrewed from the member 22, either the bolt 41 or 35 is loosened and the corresponding support 29 or 31 is moved outwardly far enough to release the carbon. The new carbon is then inserted and the parts are reassembled.

By providing slots in the supports 29 and 3l the nuts need not be entirely removed from the bolts in replacing the carbon.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that various changes in size,shape, proportion and details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. i

l. claim as my invention:

1. A lighting device comprising a socket, a terminal carried by said socket, a head having a reduced portion for detachably engagin in said socket, said head being provided wit In replacing a contact member for making electrical connection with said terminal, a carbon, means for fixedly securing said carbon Within said head and having one end electrically connected to said contact member and its other end grounded, and means for yieldingly holding said contact member out of engagement with said terminal member.

2. In a lighting device, a socket member for receiving a lighting member, said socket comprising a body portion having a pair of laterally extending fianges and a clamping screw engaging one of said flanges, said body portion being provided With a socket having bayonet slots at its open end and a terminal .member extending through the closed end of -said socket and insulated therefrom.

3. A holder for a resistance element comprising a. supporting member having a body portion, a foot portion extending at right angles therefrom and provided with a slot at its outer end, a retaining member secured to said body portion and having its free end formed to provide a recess, and a retaining member over said recess and adjacent thereto.

4. In a lighting device, a stationary member, means for attaching the sameto its support, an electrical terminal carried by said stationary member, a head slidably engaging said stationary member, means for interlocking said head on said member and for detachably connecting the same thereto, said head being provided with' a heating element fixed on said head and with a contactmember for engaging said terminal for energizing said element, and means including a spring operated member carried by said head for normally holding said contact member and element in spaced relation.

5. In a lighting device, a stationary member, means for clamping the same to a support, a head having a casing provided with an opening in its outer end, means for detachab'ly connecting said head to said stationary member, a lighting `element permanently mounted within. said casing and extending across said opening, `means for detachably connecting said head to said stationary member, and means for closing an electric circuit through said heating element.

6. In a cigar lighter, a socket member, means carried by said member for. clamping the same to a support, a head, means for detachably connecting said head to said member, a casing secured to said head and having its outer end provided with an opening, a lighting element having a flat surface turned toward said opening, means for supporting said element from the ends thereof permanently Within said casing, and means for closing an electric circuit through said lighting element for heating the same.

7. Ahead for a lighting device comprising a body member formed from a phenolic compound, a metallic sleeve over one end of said member, a metallic casing threaded onto the other end of said member and having its outer end open, a resistance element Within said casing opposite said opening,`a support for each end of said element, a contact member extending axially through said body member and engaging one of said supports, a conductor member for clamping the other of said supports and said sleeve to said body member, an insulating member over said casing, and a spring plunger carried by said head and extending from the end thereof parallel with said sleeve.

8. In a cigar lighter, a socket member, a plug of insulating material in one end of said socket member, a terminal extending through and secured to said plug, a pair of parallel arms extending laterally from said member, a clamping member extending through one of said arms for clamping the other arm against a support, a head member having a recess in its outer end and provided with a reduced portion on its inner end for telescopically engaging the open end of said socket member, a resistance element detachably mounted Within and spaced from the bottom of said recess and having one end in electrical connection With said socket member When said reduced portion is inserted therein, an insulated terminal carried by said Ahead in electrical connection With the other end of said element and adapted to" be brought into contact With said first named element for completing the circuit through said resistance element, and means including a resilient member for yieldingly holding said reduced portion Within said socket member with said terminals out of contact.

9. In combination, a support having an opening therein, a terminal in said opening, a head having an extension for slidably engaging said opening, said head comprising a body portion and a casing portion screwthreaded on said body portion, a terminal extending through said head and extension, a resistance element carried by said body portion Within said casing portion and having one end thereof in electrical Contact with said last-named terminal, means for forming an electrical connectionbetween the other end of said element and said support for grounding said; element on said support, resilient means for normally holding said terminals in spaced relation but adapted to yield to pressure to permit said terminals to be brought into contact to form a conductor for energizing said resistance element, and means for removably securing said extension in said opening.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH REN AYOTTE. 

